Toko Sekiguchi

Correspondent, The Wall Street Journal

Toko Sekiguchi writes about Japanese government and politics for The Wall Street Journal / Dow Jones Newswires. To contact Ms. Sekiguchi, email toko.sekiguchi@wsj.com. Follow her on Twitter @tokosekiguchi

Japan's neighbors and the U.S. are closely watching what words Prime Minister Shinzo Abe uses in a statement he plans in August to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II. But two predecessors asked Tuesday: Why bother making a statement at all?

The Japanese government is providing more maritime equipment to its neighbors, as part of moves by U.S. regional allies to forge closer security ties in response to China’s aggressive behavior in the Western Pacific.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s visit to Washington will help bolster the U.S.-Japan military alliance, although there was a lack of significant new language on Japan’s wartime actions, analysts said.

Kathy Matsui, chief Japan strategist for Goldman Sachs, says Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has done more than any other Japanese leader to bring women into the workplace, but economic survival is the driving force.